“No Health Hazard” From U.S. Troops

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31658, 19 April 1968, Page 1

“No Health Hazard” From U.S. Troops

Suggestions that American troops from South Vietnam should be barred from coming to New Zealand on rest and recreation leave because they might bring with them a SouthEast Asian strain of venereal disease which is hard to cure were dismissed by the DirectorGeneral of Health (Dr D. P. Kennedy) yesterday.

Dr Kennedy was at Burnham Military Camp to meet 13 airmen and soldiers who will work in Vietnam with the joint services’ medical team. Yesterday the 13 men began a three-week course. The Navy as yet is not repre-

seated in the course, and a special course may have to be provided for its representatives. The three Christchurch men taking the course are Staff-Sergeant R. S. Maitland, of Burnham, Corporal W. J. Dutson, of Wigram, and Leading Aircraftman G. S. Watt, of Wigram.

The visit of American troops to this country did not represent any health hazard, Dr Kennedy said. “Knowing the very high standards of the medical services of the American armed forces, I cannot regard seriously these suggestions that because of the possibility of their bringing in a strain of venereal disease they should be excluded from coming to New Zealand," he said. “The standard of medical surveillance of this particular medical problem is clearly indicated by the hundreds of American sailors who have had leave in New Zealand off ships which have served in South-east Asian waters,” said Dr Kennedy. “As far as we are aware, they have not created any medical problem in this country, and I do not expect them to do so,” he said. Dr Kennedy said that servicemen were not allowed to leave Vietnam until they had a clean bill of health.

Going to Washington.—The Australian Prime Minister (Mr Gorton) will visit Washington for talks with President Johnson for two days from May 27, and the following month he will visit Malaysia, Singapore and South Vietnam.—Canberra, April 18.